Horse Park wants covered arena, decision still unmade

In this file photo, Missy Ransehousen guides Eccelstone over the final jump of the show jumping course during the nation preliminary open division of the show jumping event on the final day of the annual Festival of the Horse at the Florida Horse park in Ocala, FL on Sunday April 19, 2009. The annual four day festival attracted thousands to multiple events such as Cross Country Jumping, Dressage, polo matches, a breed show and unique vendor area.

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 5:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 5:44 p.m.

The Florida Horse Park has yet to make a formal decision as to what it will do with a $2 million award by Gov. Rick Scott this week, but building a covered arena tops its list.

Horse Park board member Lonnie Powell said at a news conference Wednesday formally announcing the award that the arena is probably going to get the funding and will cost most, if not all, of the $2 million.

Powell said after the announcement that while his board must formally vote on the issue, members have already discussed the importance of the arena and wanting it built "sooner rather than later."

Powell said Horse Park Executive Director Shawn Doherty was already off investigating the issue of building an arena following the news of the $2 million.

Powell said during the news conference that the award was "critical" to the success of the park and the arena would be a "game changer" in the park's ability to generate revenue.

"Today is a very good day for the Horse Park," Powell said, adding that the Horse Park will be turning a corner because of the grant.

Horse Park officials also announced Wednesday that the $2 million award will kick off a new fundraising drive with the goal of raising another $2 million within a year.

The $2 million is a lot of money, said Anne Favre, Florida Horse Park Foundation executive director, "but it's not enough to carry us to the vision."

The Horse Park, situated on 500 acres on County Road 475 in southwest Marion County, was created in 1996 by an act of the Florida Legislature. But with no government funding and dependent on private donations, the Horse Park struggled financially. It held its first nationally recognized three-day equine event in 2005. It only recently built utility infrastructure and has yet to build permanent barns.

But its plans are ambitious, with hopes of building out the facility to include multiple arenas, competition equine rings, barns in order to rent stalls and an RV park.

The estimated cost to build out the project is at least $60 million.

Three years ago, the park used its only other government grant, amounting to $1 million, to build a welcome center that allowed for restrooms, showers and a kitchen area. The money also went toward installing miles of electric lines, commercial septic tanks and drain fields, and a water treatment facility.

Favre used the news conference as an opportunity to thank the Horse Park's supporters who helped the facility during the past several years, especially during its toughest financial periods.

She said that without their "tenacity and stick-to-it" vigilance, the park would not be where it is today.

Favre said the $2 million award will be an incentive for more people to donate money. She said the foundation has raised about $100,000 during the past six months. At one time, the park owed about $1.4 million and in one case used donation money for new barns to pay operational costs.

Since then, the park has had a new infusion of board members who helped work down its debt to about $200,000. It also created a separate foundation to raise money. The park also sells equine license plates through the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to raise money.

Foundation President Connie Wise said the Horse Park still plans to build those barns to which people donated money.

However, there are strings attached to Scott's $2 million. Because the award is intended to stimulate economic development, the governor decided that the Horse Park must be able to show that it generated $5.5 million in new sales tax revenue in the community by 2018, or the money must be repaid.

A recent study estimated that the park generates about $15 million in annual economic impact.

Powell said during the news conference that he is confident he can show that the park generated the tax goal.

<p>The Florida Horse Park has yet to make a formal decision as to what it will do with a $2 million award by Gov. Rick Scott this week, but building a covered arena tops its list.</p><p>Horse Park board member Lonnie Powell said at a news conference Wednesday formally announcing the award that the arena is probably going to get the funding and will cost most, if not all, of the $2 million.</p><p>Powell said after the announcement that while his board must formally vote on the issue, members have already discussed the importance of the arena and wanting it built "sooner rather than later."</p><p>Powell said Horse Park Executive Director Shawn Doherty was already off investigating the issue of building an arena following the news of the $2 million.</p><p>Powell said during the news conference that the award was "critical" to the success of the park and the arena would be a "game changer" in the park's ability to generate revenue.</p><p>"Today is a very good day for the Horse Park," Powell said, adding that the Horse Park will be turning a corner because of the grant.</p><p>Horse Park officials also announced Wednesday that the $2 million award will kick off a new fundraising drive with the goal of raising another $2 million within a year.</p><p>The $2 million is a lot of money, said Anne Favre, Florida Horse Park Foundation executive director, "but it's not enough to carry us to the vision."</p><p>The Horse Park, situated on 500 acres on County Road 475 in southwest Marion County, was created in 1996 by an act of the Florida Legislature. But with no government funding and dependent on private donations, the Horse Park struggled financially. It held its first nationally recognized three-day equine event in 2005. It only recently built utility infrastructure and has yet to build permanent barns.</p><p>But its plans are ambitious, with hopes of building out the facility to include multiple arenas, competition equine rings, barns in order to rent stalls and an RV park.</p><p>The estimated cost to build out the project is at least $60 million.</p><p>Three years ago, the park used its only other government grant, amounting to $1 million, to build a welcome center that allowed for restrooms, showers and a kitchen area. The money also went toward installing miles of electric lines, commercial septic tanks and drain fields, and a water treatment facility.</p><p>Favre used the news conference as an opportunity to thank the Horse Park's supporters who helped the facility during the past several years, especially during its toughest financial periods.</p><p>She said that without their "tenacity and stick-to-it" vigilance, the park would not be where it is today.</p><p>Favre said the $2 million award will be an incentive for more people to donate money. She said the foundation has raised about $100,000 during the past six months. At one time, the park owed about $1.4 million and in one case used donation money for new barns to pay operational costs.</p><p>Since then, the park has had a new infusion of board members who helped work down its debt to about $200,000. It also created a separate foundation to raise money. The park also sells equine license plates through the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to raise money.</p><p>Foundation President Connie Wise said the Horse Park still plans to build those barns to which people donated money.</p><p>However, there are strings attached to Scott's $2 million. Because the award is intended to stimulate economic development, the governor decided that the Horse Park must be able to show that it generated $5.5 million in new sales tax revenue in the community by 2018, or the money must be repaid.</p><p>A recent study estimated that the park generates about $15 million in annual economic impact.</p><p>Powell said during the news conference that he is confident he can show that the park generated the tax goal.</p><p>Also present during the news conference were County Commissioner Kathy Bryant, Ocala/Marion County Visitors Convention Bureau executive director Loretta Schaffer, and competitive equine eventer Jon Holling.</p><p>As for the covered arena, Powell said the structure will allow the Horse Park to hold money-making events that are now out of its reach.</p><p>"You need a magnet," Powell said of the planned arena. "This is the magnet."</p><p>Contact Fred Hiers at 867-4157 or fred.hiers@starbanner.com.</p>